Is Physical Distancing And Self-Isolation Bringing Us Closer As A Community?

While the country is on lockdown and we’re practicing self isolation and social distancing to avoid the spread of the virus, are we really coming closer as a community? Like many employed in the organised sector, I have the fortune of being able to work from home even before the government announced a curfew. And having been at home for over three weeks, I’ve noticed how the current scenario has changed the dynamics of our social lives and our interactions with friends and family.

I’m hearing from friends I haven’t spoken to in years..

I can’t recall the last time I was this constantly in touch with my friends and cousins. Barring the years in college of course, when I didn’t have any real responsibilities. I’ve group-chatted with my college friends on Facetime more often in these few days than I have in the past few years. My best friend from school whom I hadn’t been regularly in touch with texted me and we shared our old photos and had a good laugh at how embarrassing we once were.

Whether it’s an online game, or the gang getting together to play pictionary on houseparty (the jury is still out on the legitimacy of the app though), we’re all coming up with creative ways to hang out with friends.

Even the oldies are catching on..

While family groups on Whatsapp are more active than they’ve ever been, the conversations are now not just limited to jokes and ‘Good Morning’ messages. People are sharing tips on how to deal with the stress, credible organisations for donations to help doctors and migrant workers, and something I never thought was possible also happened: I’m witnessing people actually fact-check news they receive on social media before buying into it. Thus ensuring they don’t spread fake information and cause undue stress.

The older generations that have, in the past, stigmatised mental health issues are now opening up and talking about the importance of taking care of their mental health. Yes, it comes at a time when they’re also in the position of being affected by it, but it’s a start...

The feeling of being in this together

I think something that has had a huge impact on our mindsets is also the feeling of being in something huge, together. This situation is being faced by the entire world, and everyone is feeling the same things. The same crippling panic, stress, feeling of being overwhelmed because of bad news, and the general cynical feeling of everything coming to an ominous halt. Which has made all of us more thoughtful and considerate of each other’s mental health, and together as a society we’re trying to build collective and healthy coping mechanisms.

Whether it’s something as small as playing online games together, or regularly calling your friends to check up on them, everyone is trying to go out of their way to ensure that their friends, family, teachers, neighbours, are staying positive.

What also deserves our attention and praise is that at the time of a calamity, how quickly the citizens of the country mobilise efforts and funds to help the worst affected and the high-risk groups, and figure out creative solutions to contribute even when our government fails to act on those issues.

While we may be distanced physically, we aren’t socially. At the end of the day, each individual, just by staying at home, is contributing in a huge way to control the spread. And without the support system of our social circles, this wouldn’t even be possible.

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